Former county controller’s flag flown over U.S. Capitol on nation’s 250th
A piece of history made its way from the U.S. Capitol to Butler County thanks to Zelienople native and former Butler County controller Jack McMillin.
He had placed a special request through the office of congressman and Butler County native Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th,. to order an American flag which had been flown over the U.S. Capitol building during America’s semiquincentennial on July 4.
“I had a tattered Old Glory on my porch pole and I had to replace it,” McMillin said. “That's when it hit me. I knew you could go through your congressman and apply for a flag that's flown over the Capitol. I said, ‘Let me try that route, rather than just go up to Walmart and buy a new flag.’”
Kelly, like every other U.S. representative and senator, allows citizens to put in a request to purchase an American flag flown over the Capitol building on a specific date.
Although McMillin could have ordered a flag from anyone, he chose Kelly for a specific reason — the two have been close friends dating back to the time McMillin lived four doors down from Kelly in the Shanor Manor neighborhood of Center Township.
McMillin said the two still see each other occasionally, most recently at Zelienople’s Fourth of July parade, where Kelly rode to promote his reelection campaign.
“We don’t talk much about politics anymore,” McMillin said. “We mostly just talk about the good old days in Shanor Manor.”
“Our office often receives requests from local veterans, civic organizations, Scouts and other organizations,” said a spokesman for Kelly. “It’s a great service each congressional office provides for their constituents. If an individual or group wants to receive a Capitol-flown flag, they can request one on our website or give one of our district offices a call.”
According to McMillin, most people request a flag flown over the Capitol on their birthday. While his birthday was not far away, he had a different idea.
“My birthday is coming up here in a few days, but it occurred to me … July 4th would really make (the flag) almost like a family heirloom,” McMillin said.
McMillin did not know his request was granted until Friday, July 17, when a mysterious box arrived at his front door.
“This box shows up on my porch. A rather large box with no markings on it or anything and I'm wondering why. I didn't order anything,” McMillin said.
As it turned out, the box — which also featured Mike Kelly’s signature — contained an authentic American flag, as well as a certificate of authenticity stating it had flown over the U.S. Capitol July 4, just as McMillin had requested.
“I never expected that because I was thinking there was probably 37,000 other people who had the same idea,” McMillin said. “I guess I was just lucky.”
McMillin put his new Old Glory on display for exactly one day before putting it back in storage for safekeeping.
“The flag was put out there momentarily for a photograph,” McMillin said. “That flag is going back in its storage container and will be passed on as a family heirloom.”
